2008 Desmosedici RR | Achievement in Design

Ducati’s 2007 MotoGP season was a truly astonishing display of dominance from the relatively small Italian factory. The resulting World Championship win was a complete rout of the competition, and the unassailable points lead—with three rounds left to go—was the result of perfect collaboration between Ducati, Bridgestone tires, and Casey Stoner, who found himself in the midst of a perfect storm. Ducati’s excursion into the street-going four-cylinder world is an unqualified award-winning success. (Click image to enlarge)

The decision of Ducati management to develop a road machine derived directly from the race bike had been made in the age of liter-displacement MotoGP powerplants, so the Desmosedici RR is based around the 990cc iteration. Still, with their reputations on the line, Ducati and Bridgestone have allowed us, mere mortals, the opportunity to buy a machine that contains many of their racing secrets.

Riding the 200 hp super-lightweight machine at Utah’s Miller Motorsports Park, I found the addictively whirring, almost-mechanical exhaust note from the V-4 engine had me wringing the throttle just a little harder than usual. I found it to be not just shockingly fast, but wonderfully neutral handling, beautifully braked and ultimately very intuitive to ride. Yes, it is that good. Motorcyclists are spoiled for choice when it comes to incredible sport machinery, but for this year, and for us at Ultimate MotorCycling, Ducati must take the top step of the podium once again.